Solar-powered aerial drone uses flexible photovoltaics [VIDEO]
by CanadianManufacturing.com Staff
With solar panels on its wings, the smallest version of the Silent Falcon drone stays aloft for six hours
THORNTON, Colo.—Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc.is using its flexible thin-film photovoltaic modules to power the latest man-portable unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).
The Silent Falcon solar-electric tactical drone, built by Silent Falcon UAS Technologies, was recently displayed at the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) conference in Las Vegas.
Accent is supplying its copper-indium-gallium-diselenide (CIGS) photovoltaics to power the Silent Falcon, a synergy of several technologies, including flexible photovoltaic modules; electric propulsion; latest-generation electro-optical and infrared sensors; advanced target identification and tracking methodologies; and unique target image and data capture and transmission capabilities.
Check out this video describing the Silent Falcon:
Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc., based in Thornton, Colo., develops thin-film photovoltaic modules using flexible substrate materials.
Silent Falcon UAS™ Technologies was established in 2010 in Albuquerque, N.M. to develop technological UAV innovations for global defense, intelligence and national security agencies, the domestic public safety agency market and U.S.-based private security contractors.
Bye Aerospace, headquartered near Denver, applies clean energy solutions to innovative aircraft designs for the aerospace and defense markets.
